Gwinett Chamber's Economic Development Department has grown significantly. From just two employees less than a year ago, it has become the fastest growing in the nation and the second largest in the State, next to the State's team of economic developers. The team includes eight full-time staff members along with a part time project associate and is fullly-engaged in opportunities for the QUEST intern program.
The Economic Development Team
Nick Masino, Vice President
Economic Development/Partnership Gwinnett
(404) 667-6425 cell
(770) 232-8802 office
(770) 271-5325 home
Email Nick Masino
Nick Masino, Vice President of Economic Development, oversees the business recruitment and retention efforts for Gwinnett County as well as the implementation of the Partnership Gwinnett Strategy. Prior to his role in economic development, Masino spent 12 years in the recruiting, headhunting and staffing industry both in Metro Atlanta and throughout the U.S. Masino worked with various business models from entrepreneurial ventures to Fortune 100 companies, managing multi-million dollar efforts focused on recruitment in the ares of IT, Finance and General Business. Masino also served the citizens of Suwanee, GA, as Mayor from 2000-2007 leading the city to receive over 30 national, regional and local awards, including its most recent and highest honor as the 2007 Money Magazine 10th Best Small Town in America. Masino earned his B.A. in Communications from The Ohio State University.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Lauren Salas, Business Development Manager
Corporate Headquarters/Regional Offices
(404) 219-0218 cell
(678) 584-2265 office
Email Lauren Salas
Lauren Salas serves as the Business Development manager targeting Corporate/Regional headquarter growth in Gwinnett. Salas comes to the chamber with a wealth of economic development experience. While in her role as International Project Coordinator for the GDEcD (Georgia Department of Economic Development), she was the liaison for the Department's international offices in ten countries and promoted international investment and trade for the state of Georgia. Salas has also implemented program initiatives and managed the direction of business advocacy for members at the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of Auburn University and currently resides in Lawrenceville.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Alison Nalley Starnes, Business Development Manager
Trade & Distribution
(770) 265-2906 cell
(678) 584-2266 office
Email Alison Starnes
Alison Nalley Starnes serves as the Business Development Manager targeting Trade & Distribution industry growth in Gwinnett.
Prior to her current role, Starnes worked for the City of Snellville as their Economic and Community Development Manager, improving business community involvement, recruiting prospective new businesses to the Snellville area, and implementing programs in an effort to produce an entrepreneurial environment. Starnes significantly built her career experience for two years at the Waycross-Ware County Chamber of Commerce. As Executive Director, Starnes led the Chamber into financial stability, coordinated chamber networking events, facilitated new business openings, marketed the community to residents and managed chamber memberships to develop the organization into a strong asset for the community. Starnes is a member of GEDA (Georgia Economic Developer's Association) and participates in ongoing education with the Georgia Academy for Economic Development. Starnes is a West Georgia graduate and currently resides in Suwanee.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Davis, Business Development Manager
Healthcare & Life Sciences
(678) 296-3891 cell
(770) 232-1174 office
Email Bill Davis
Bill Davis serves as the Business Development Manager targeting Healthcare and Life Science industry growth in Gwinnett.
Prior to his current role, Davis worked as Public Affairs Manager for Serologicals Corporation, where he helped increased market cap value, resulting in acquisition by Millipore Corporation and thereby enhancing the corporate image within the public company marketplace. Among other achievements, his marketing communications helped grow Bioprocess and Bioscience product revenues by more than 50%, creating a comprehensive brand integration plan and executing a communications strategy for all Serologicals business segments, including media relations, internal/external communications and investor relations for the publicly traded company (NASDAQ). Davis also led Marketing & Community Relations as Director at Southeast Georgia Health Systems. There, Davis oversaw marketing plans, managed guest relations, increased public exposure and raised self-insured usage by over $5 million. Davis holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia and currently resides in Duluth.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Melanie Brandt, Business Development Manager
Information Technology & Advanced Communications
(678) 296-3891 cell
(770) 232-1174 office
Email Melanie Brandt
Melanie Brandt serves as the Business Development Manager targeting Information Technology and Advanced Communications industry growth in Gwinnett.
Prior to her current role, Brandt directed community and information resources for the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), Georgia’s largest non-profit industry association. While there, Brandt increased public awareness throughout the State and Nation, orchestrated all details for the Annual TAG State of the Industry and promoted TAG through marketing communications while increasing membership sales and enhancing the business’s web presence. She also served as the President for Atlanta Telecom Professionals (ATP) from 2005-2006 and held various roles with technology business leaders such as FiberLight, LLC, ICG Communications, InterCall, Inc., Parametric Technology Corporation, and Minolta Business Solutions. Brandt has developed a strong working knowledge of technology infrastructure and development necessary for company expansion and growth in these industry sectors. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Biology from the University of Colorado and is currently earning her MBA with the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University. She resides in Norcross, Ga.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Lisa Sherman, External Marketing Manager
Economic Development/Partnership Gwinnett
(678) 584-2267 office
Email Lisa Sherman
Lisa Sherman is the External Marketing Manager for Economic Development where she works as the staff lead on external marketing efforts in support and promotion of the Partnership Gwinnett Initiative. Lisa comes to the Chamber from over seven years with AGCO Corporation, a major worldwide manufacturer & distributor of agricultural equipment, headquartered in Gwinnett (Duluth, GA). Sherman began in marketing support and worked her way into communications. As a coordinator with the communications department, Sherman supported the communications managers, implementing processes, planning events and training for management. By 2003, Sherman had been promoted to project management, handling the marketing communications for AGCO's Application Equipment Division where she remained until her move to the Chamber. She holds a degree in Interpretative Speech (Communications) from Bob Jones University and currently resides in Loganville.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark Farmer, Research Manager
Economic Development/Partnership Gwinnett
(678) 584-2268 office
Email Mark Farmer
Mark Farmer is the Research Manager for Economic Development, providing key information and support necessary to drive the decision-making processes and marketing initiatives set forth by Partnership Gwinnett. Mark comes to the Chamber with 20 years' business experience, including several as a small business entrepreneur with Words & Pictures, a writing and photography firm owned and operated by Farmer, himself. He worked on projects for Emory University's Public Health magazine, Georgia Tech and the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. In addition to starting his own business, Farmer has also held positions with Life University's public relations and photography departments, MARTA, Hayes Microcomputer Products, Powell Goldstein legal firm and Multimedia, Inc. Farmer holds a B.A. in journalism from the University of South Carolina and a master's degree in economic development policy from Georgia Tech. He lives in Decatur.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Heather Neilan, Economic Development Coordinator
Economic Development/Partnership Gwinnett
(678) 957-4944 office
Email Heather Neilan
Heather Neilan serves as the Economic Development Coordinator for Partnership Gwinnett, focusing on the support of efforts in business development, marketing and research. Prior to her role with the Chamber’s economic development team, Neilan held positions at Adelphia Communications Corporation, coordinating production of their daily newscast, editing weekly programming and training new hires and interns. As a Clerk, Neilan gained financial management experience processing billing and collection for clients, maintaining payroll and tracking budgets. As Office Manager for Automotive Detail, Neilan controlled and managed payroll, coordinated expenses and maintained the company’s human resource files. Neilan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Reinhardt College and currently resides in Suwanee, GA.
